Promoting talents, spreading excellence

'Empowerment of the Next Generation of Researchers Promoting talents, spreading excellence (ENGRes2014)' is a European Commission Conference organised by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, in collaboration with the Autonomous Province of Trento, under the auspices of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will take place in Trento from 18 to 19 November. The overall theme of the conference is to discuss and reflect on the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions with a special focus on the concept of 'empowerment' of the next generation of researchers by addressing relevant issues such as training, mobility and career development. The aim is to promote common initiatives and to share best practices that ensure excellent and innovative research training as well as attractive career and knowledge-exchange opportunities through cross-border and cross-sector mobility of researchers, to better prepare the next generation of researchers for current and future societal challenges.

Major issues such as skills, mobility and gender balance will be explored from this angle. The conference will focus on the policy issues for policy-makers, funders and businesses contributing to research training, as well as universities and research institutes.

A large audience from across Europe and beyond will address key issues related to the conference theme. How can talent can be nurtured to grow into excellence? How to (re)train the scientific workforce in order for it to dialogue with industry? How it is possible to unlock the full potential of new researchers to achieve the economic and social goals of the EU?

The participants will gather for one-and-a-half days at the premises of the University of Trento, for a programme divided into three main parts. Initially the conference will update participants on recent political initiatives on research training undertaken by the EU institutions. The conference will then offer a number of professionally facilitated workshops with different subthemes within the conference topic, during which the participants will exchange knowledge and experiences and engage in discussions to develop ideas for future actions and recommendations.

The conference will also feature the award of the 2014 Marie SkBodowska-Curie actions prizes for the categories: 'Promising research talents' awarded to a particularly 'high-flying’ fellow; 'Communicating science' recognizing the best researcher in outreach and science communication; 'Nurturing research talent' for particularly supporting new entrants to the research profession.